IT’S ON! Islanders Open 2020-21 Season Against Rival New York Rangers

In a whacky season, why not open the year against your biggest rival.

The New York Islanders will open the 2020-21 season against the New York Rangers on Jan. 14 at Madison Square Garden and then face them again two days later on Jan. 16. The Islanders will play their home opener at Nassau Coliseum on Jan. 18 against Boston Bruins.

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It kicks off a 56-game sprint of a season that will see the New York Islanders face the Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres eight times. Times for games this season were not announced on Wednesday.

The Islanders will wrap the regular season up with sets of games against the New York Rangers, Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils.

The Islanders will play 13 of their first 20 games this year on the road. The Islanders will play two extended homestands this season at Nassau Coliseum as well.

The first is a seven-game homestand that begins on Feb. 25 against Boston and ends March 11 against New Jersey. The second is a six-game homestand and runs from  April 1 against the New York Rangers to April 11 when they host Washington.

The New York Islanders will not play more than two consecutive games against the same opponent. The Islanders will also play five sets of back-to-back games this season.

Home team on the right, just an FYI #Isles https://t.co/cSoEDxeiEb

— Christian Arnold (@C_Arnold01) December 23, 2020

One of the Islanders’ toughest stretches comes in the middle of March. The Islanders will play sets against the Washington Capitals on the road, Philadephia Flyers at home, and then play two games against the Boston Bruins on the road and Pittsburgh Penguins in the Keystone State.

The Islanders will get the chance to give Nassau Coliseum one final farewell this year, but it’s unlikely that Islanders fans can expect to be in the building for any of their 28 home games. While at an event at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky wouldn’t predict when fans would be allowed back in arenas.

“Coming to a game would be terrific,” Ledecky said. “That time will eventually arrive, but we are going to listen to the health authorities and the experts at each and every step.”

The Islanders are expected to move to UBS Arena next fall.

Below is the full New York Islanders schedule:

JANUARY
Jan. 14 at NY Rangers
Jan. 16 at NY Rangers
Jan. 18 vs Boston
Jan. 21 vs New Jersey
Jan. 24 at New Jersey
Jan. 26 at Washington
Jan. 28 at Washington
Jan. 30 at Philadelphia
Jan. 31 at Philadelphia

FEBRUARY
Feb. 2 vs Buffalo
Feb. 4 vs Buffalo
Feb. 6 vs Pittsburgh
Feb. 8 at NY Rangers
Feb. 11 vs Pittsburgh
Feb. 13 vs Boston
Feb. 15 at Buffalo
Feb. 16 at Buffalo
Feb. 18 at Pittsburgh
Feb. 20 at Pittsburgh
Feb. 23 at New Jersey
Feb. 25 vs Boston
Feb. 27 vs Pittsburgh
Feb. 28 vs Pittsburgh

MARCH
Mar. 5 vs Buffalo
Mar. 7 vs Buffalo
Mar. 9 vs Boston
Mar. 11 vs New Jersey
Mar. 13 at New Jersey
Mar. 15 at Washington
Mar. 16 at Washington
Mar. 18 vs Philadelphia
Mar. 20 vs Philadelphia
Mar. 25 at Boston
Mar. 27 at Boston
Mar. 29 at Pittsburgh
Mar. 30 at Pittsburgh

APRIL
Apr. 1 vs Washington
Apr. 3 vs Philadelphia
Apr. 6 vs Washington
Apr. 8 vs Philadelphia
Apr. 9 vs NY Rangers
Apr. 11 vs NY Rangers
Apr. 13 at Boston
Apr. 16 at Boston
Apr. 18 at Philadelphia
Apr. 20 vs NY Rangers
Apr. 22 vs Washington
Apr. 24 vs Washington
Apr. 25 at Philadelphia
Apr. 27 at New Jersey
Apr. 29 at NY Rangers

MAY
May 1 vs NY Rangers
May 3 at Buffalo
May 4 at Buffalo
May 6 vs New Jersey
May 8 vs New Jersey